Christmas trees selling in a big way
By Katherine Nichols
Advertiser Staff Writer
People are out of work. The economy is suffering. But Christmas tree dealers say residents are turning out in force to get the one item that defies all economic indicators and symbolizes good spirits and quality family time: a Christmas tree.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
And if there's a trend this year, it may be that bigger is better.
Winlove Mabuti, left, and Nick Miller move a Noble fir at the Cliff Laboy Christmas Tree tent at Kapi'olani and Ward.
Christmas tree dealers say sales are brisk, with quantities and prices about the same as last year. While some dealers said they expected to run out, others said there should be plenty of trees through the holidays.
A surprise for several has been the popularity of the 10- to 12-foot Noble firs — which sell for as much as $280.
"People are buying different," said Ed MacGregor, co-owner of Canamore Tree Farms with partner Ole Canamore. "They're going to the great big trees."
MacGregor, who has two lots in 'Aiea and one downtown, has sold trees in Hawai'i for 20 years. This year he said he started with 55 trees between 10 and 18 feet tall. December has not arrived yet, and he's already down to 15 trees. And these are not going to offices or hotels, but to people's homes.
As Rick Laboy helped a customer load a 12-foot tree onto a large truck, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and said he also had noticed increased demand for larger trees at Laboy's lots in the islands.
And while the bigger trees are more expensive — they take longer to grow, are scarcer and more expensive to ship — several vendors said people seem willing to spend the extra money this year.
"People want to put some of this bad stuff behind them and have a good Christmas," said Home Depot store manager Bill McKale.
